Flow development and cogeneration chamber

ABSTRACT

A fluid handling and cogeneration system has an inlet conduit receiving a fluid, a housing having a inlet end, a outlet end and an interior surface. The housing encloses an inner body which together with the housing is arranged to form an annular space between the interior surface of the housing and an exterior surface of the inner body. The system also includes at least one diverter configured such that the fluid is directed to circulate around the inner body and traverse the annular space from the diverter toward the outlet end of the housing in an organized fashion. A generator is provided within the housing to harness the fluid traversing the annular space to generate electrical power.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/647,275,filed Dec. 24, 2009, to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,026,621 on Sep. 27,2011, which application is a continuation of application Ser. No.11/290,152 filed Nov. 29, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,663,261, issued onFeb. 16, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/653,548, filed Feb. 15, 2005, the entire disclosuresof which are incorporated fully herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

This application is a new application in the area of electricitygeneration, e.g. by using the technology described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2005/0000581, filed on Jun. 4, 2003, theentire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

In the area of electricity generation, a need exists for a system whichuses the motion generated in a strong organized flow of a fluid materialtraveling in a helical pattern surrounding a spiraling flow of the sameor different material to allow for low energy input conveying of thematerials, while at the same time using that spiraling flow forcogeneration capabilities to provide electricity for storage or tooperate the system receiving said materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a flow developmentchamber comprises an exterior housing, an interior body within theexterior housing, at least one diverter to aid in the development of aspiral flow within the flow development chamber, and a generator devicesuch as an electrical motor or a micro-generator device capable ofgenerating electrical power using the motion of the spiral flowdeveloped in the flow development chamber.

In an alternative embodiment, a fluid handling and cogeneration systemcomprises an inlet conduit receiving a fluid, a housing having a inletend, a outlet end and an interior surface extending concentrically andincreasing then decreasing in diameter from the inlet end to the outletend of the housing, an inner body within the housing having an inletend, an outlet end, and an exterior surface extending concentricallyfrom the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein the housing and inner bodyare arranged to form a substantially unobstructed annular space betweenthe interior surface of the housing and the exterior surface of theinner body, at least one diverter extending between the interior surfaceof the housing and the exterior surface of the inner body and configuredsuch that the fluid is directed to circulate around the inner body andtraverse the annular space from the at least one diverter toward theoutlet end of the housing, and a generator within the housing harnessingthe motion of the fluid traversing the annular space to generateelectrical power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be madewith reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a flow development and cogeneration system foruse with various flow processing devices according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2A shows a side view of a first embodiment of a flow developmentand cogeneration chamber wherein the fluid flows through the chamber ina forward direction;

FIG. 2B shows a sectional view along line 2B-2B of the flow developmentand cogeneration chamber of FIG. 2A (the inner body omitted forillustration purposes);

FIG. 3A is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a flowdevelopment and cogeneration chamber of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an assembled sectional view of the flow development andcogeneration chamber of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a deflector arrangement having angledends for the flow development and cogeneration chamber of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D is an end view of FIG. 3C;

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of adeflector arrangement having flat ends;

FIG. 3F is an end view of FIG. 3E;

FIG. 3G is an end view, similar to FIG. 3F, of a second alternativeembodiment of a deflector arrangement.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of another embodiment of a flow development andcogeneration chamber wherein the fluid flows through the chamber in aforward direction;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of an interior rifled surface of analternative embodiment of the outer housing.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an additional embodiment a flow developmentand cogeneration chamber wherein the fluid flows through the chamber ina reverse direction;

FIG. 6 shows a flow development and cogeneration chamber according to analternative embodiment having a single section inner body;

FIG. 7 shows a flow development chamber according to one embodiment ofthe present invention used to mix two flowable materials; and

FIG. 8 shows a flow development chamber according to one embodiment ofthe present invention used to separate two flowable materials.

Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and arrangements of components set forth inthe following description, or illustrated in the drawings. The inventionis capable of alternative embodiments and of being practiced or beingcarried out in various ways. Furthermore, it is to be understood thatthe terminology used herein is for the purpose of illustrativedescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a fluid passes through an axial input flow development chamber of thetype described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0000581,the beneficial nature of the spinning flow developed in the fluid may beharnessed to generate electricity using a micro generator, micro motoror other generation or cogeneration device.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a flow development and cogeneration systemhaving a flow processing device 15, which may for example be a waterheater, water pump, engine, or another device which receives andprocesses a fluid flow. The flow development and cogeneration systemalso includes a feed 16 for passing fluid to the flow processing device15, after which it passes to an inlet conduit 11 of a flow developmentand cogeneration chamber 10. An outlet conduit 12 extends from the flowdevelopment and cogeneration chamber 10. A controller 17 may be providedcoupled to the flow processing device 15 to regulate the amount of fluidinput into the system. Electricity generated in the chamber 10 may beretained in a storage cell 14 by wiring 13 or used to cogenerate thedevice 15 by wiring 13′, reducing the amount of power the device 15 mustdraw from an outside source. A more detailed description of FIG. 1 willbe provided further on in this specification following a discussionregarding the nature and various embodiments of the flow development andcogeneration chamber 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a first embodiment of a flowdevelopment and cogeneration chamber 70 which can be used as the chamber10 of FIG. 1 is shown. The flow development and cogeneration chamber 70includes a housing 71 enclosing an inner body 72. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, both the housing 71 and the inner body 72 are bothformed radially symmetrically along a central axis, and have a doubleconical shape overall with a widest central diameter or equator, andtaper off along the central axis away from the equator. When a fluid iscirculated around the inner body 72 within the housing 71 in thedirection of the arrow A as shown, an organized flow may be developed. Ashaft mounted propeller 91 may be attached to the inner body 72 as shownin FIG. 2A to harness this organized flow. By harnessing the organizedflow using the propeller 91 or another method, electricity may begenerated. The blades of the propeller may be located in the chamber 70or in the downstream pipe.

The housing 71 may be connected to an inlet pipe 78 by a plate 86, orthe inlet pipe 78 may be directly connected to the inlet end of thehousing 71 through the use of an adhesive, a weld or other appropriatemeans known to one skilled in the art. Deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85(as shown in FIG. 2B), which may also be called diverters, are formedfrom a downstream end (in the direction of the arrow A) of the inletpipe 78.

The deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 aid in the development of theorganized flow of fluid around the inner body 72 within the housing 71,and may be formed by making four axial cuts into the downstream end ofthe inlet pipe 78 and a circumferential cut toward one side to form aflap. The flap is then deflected outwardly to form the projectingportion of the deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85. Accordingly, the end ofthe inlet pipe 78 includes four circular tube portions that are theinner portions 87 of the deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 and fouroutwardly projecting portions that are the projecting portions 88 of thedeflecting vanes. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a double arcuateshape of the deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 is formed in a radialdirection perpendicular to the central axis. These deflecting vanes 82,83, 84, 85 have an upstream side adjacent the plate 86 and a downstreamside 89 axially, and an inner portion 87 and a projecting portion 88radially. In the embodiment shown, the deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85project axially from the inlet pipe 78. In this embodiment, thedeflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 deflect the fluid flow around the innerbody 72.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, a top view of a portion of the exteriorhousing of the flow development and cogeneration chamber 70 of FIG. 2Ais shown taken along the section 2B-2B of FIG. 2A. Deflecting vanes 82,83, 84, 85 are depicted in FIG. 2B which outline an inner concentriccircle 81.

As shown in FIG. 2A, deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 radially contactthe outer housing 71 with the upstream ends of their projecting portions88 and support the inner body 72 with the downstream ends of their innerportions 87. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, thedeflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 project radially in a line.

In alternative embodiments, the deflecting vanes 82, 83, 84, 85 may bevariously angled, curved or otherwise modified to aid in the developmentof the organized flow as the fluid passes around the inner body.Additional alternative embodiments exist wherein less than four as wellas more than four deflecting vanes are provided, and wherein thesedeflecting vane or vanes are mounted in either clockwise orcounter-clockwise patterns. The deflecting vanes may be set at angles of90 degrees, or at angles greater to or less than 90 degrees to the curveof the outlet.

FIGS. 3A-3F show further alternative embodiments of a flow developmentand cogeneration chamber having deflecting vanes 171 provided on a plate172 fixed to the inlet pipe 174. The deflecting vanes 171 may beprovided as individual pieces mounted directly to the plate 172 using anadhesive, fasteners or another appropriate method. The plate 172 maythen be mounted to the inlet pipe 174 using a similar method. The plateand vane assembly mounted on the inlet pipe 174 may then be passedthrough an opening in a lower housing part 176 so that the plate 172rests on an inner top surface 175 of the housing part 176. These may bebolted, welded, screwed together or otherwise fixedly attached. Thehousing part 176 is provided with a flange 177 so that it may engagewith an upper housing part 178 to provide an exterior enclosure for theflow development and cogeneration chamber. These may be bolted, welded,screwed together or otherwise fixedly attached. The deflecting vanes maybe provided to support an inner body 173, and may be provided with anangled edge 179 (see FIG. 3C) to better engage the surface of the innerbody 173 along the full length of the downstream surface of the vane.

FIGS. 3C and 3D show the deflecting vanes 171 mounted on

the plate 172 in a spiral pattern between the outer radius 180 and theinner radius 181 and a circular passage 182 through the plate 172. In analternative embodiment, the deflecting vanes 171 have flat edges 183(see FIGS. 3E and 3F), i.e., the full length of the downstream surfaceof the vane is a flat surface lying in a plane parallel to plate 172. Inyet a further embodiment depicted in FIG. 3G, the deflecting vanes 191have a double arcuate surface 192 on the inside and a single arc surface193 on the outside. It will be appreciated that the deflecting vanes maybe secured directly to the outer housing and/or inner housing and maycomprise many configurations that cause incoming fluid to circulatearound the inner body and traverse the annular space between the outerhousing and inner body from the deflecting vanes to the outlet end ofthe chamber.

FIG. 4 through FIG. 8 show various other embodiments of flow developmentand cogeneration chambers in operation. It will be appreciated that thedeflector arrangements of FIGS. 2A-3G, or other suitable arrangementsmay be used. FIG. 4 for example shows one such embodiment wherein afluid passes through a flow development and cogeneration chamber 20 inthe direction of arrow A. The chamber 20 comprises a housing 21connected to an inlet pipe 28 and an outlet pipe 29, and enclosing aninner body 22. Deflecting vanes 215 are provided in the chamber adjacentthe inlet pipe or formed from an upstream end of the inlet pipe 28. Asabove, the deflecting vanes 215 aid in the development of the organizedflow as a fluid passes around the inner body 22 within the housing 21.The inner body 22 itself may comprise a first section 23 and a secondsection 24 joined to one another.

Although the embodiment of the inner body 22 shown is provided in twoseparate sections, the second rounded section 24 and the first pointedsection 23, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that theinner body may comprise any combination of a first section which iseither rounded or pointed, and a second section which is also eitherrounded or pointed. The sections of the inner body may be conical orsubstantially conical and include a portion extending into the housingof the flow development chamber or into the conduits adjacent to theflow development chamber for greater stability. In still otherembodiments, various shapes can be utilized to make up the sections ofthe inner body, including non-concentric sections. In a more generalembodiment, the inner body may comprise a single section, broadlyconical in shape, pointed in the direction of the source of the fluidflow. In yet another embodiment, the inner body may be spherical,cylindrical, or any appropriate shape known to one skilled in the art.

The housing 21 shown in FIG. 4 is formed from a pair of conical portionsto match the inner body 22 so that an annular space is provided betweenthe interior surface of the housing 21 and the exterior surface of theinner body 22. However as with the inner body 22, many variations inshape are possible for the housing 21, e.g., the housing 21 may bespherical, cylindrical, or any appropriate shape known to one skilled inthe art. The housing 21 may also be made from a variety of materials,although if the chamber 20 is to process hard particulate matter it ispreferable that the material be a durable material capable of contactinga wide variety of substances without sustaining substantial damage. Invarious alternative embodiments, materials used for the housing maycomprise aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass, black metal, rubber,plastic, ceramic, fiber-glass, and composites or other durablematerials. One or more of these materials may also be used tomanufacture the other components of the flow development chamber aswell.

After entering the inlet pipe 28 of the chamber 20, the fluid isdeflected and travels through the annular space between the interiorsurface of the housing 21 and the exterior surface of the inner body 22.At this point, the fluid develops a steady organized spiral or vortexflow 120. This organized flow 120, which is a combination of a sink flowand an irrotational vortex flow, is a counterclockwise flow in theembodiment shown when viewed along an axis running between the inletpipe 28 and the outlet pipe 29, although in an alternative embodiment aclockwise flow is also possible.

As the organized flow 120 moves through the chamber 20 it acceleratesand Taylor vortices, in the form of a boundary layer flow, begin to formalong the inner surface of the housing 21 such that the forming boundarylayer flow surrounds the organized flow 120. The flow then travels outof the chamber 20 into the outlet pipe 29 coupled to the chamber 20.

The organized flow 120 continues to travel through the outlet pipe 29 asa spiraling vortex flow 122 surrounded by a helical flow 121. The lengthof the organized flow 120 can vary with the volume of fluid or productmass.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chamber 20 is provided with an inner body 22having both a second section 24 and a first section 23. The firstsection 23 is fixably mounted within the housing 21 of the chamber 20,and a generator such as a micro generator 25 is fixably mounted to thefirst section 23. In one embodiment, the first section 23 of the innerbody may be held in place using the diverters 215 in a mannerillustrated with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The housing 21 may beaffixed to the diverters with adhesive, or as an alternative they may bewelded or melded together. The micro generator 25 is located inside theinner body 22 in the embodiment shown and is connected to a shaft 26which passes through the second section 24, on which shaft in turn ismounted a propeller 27. As such the armature of the micro turbine 25 maybe turned by the action of the organized flow, and preferably thespiraling vortex flow 122, created in the chamber 20, which organizedflow acts on the propeller 27 to rotate the propeller and shaft 26.

In an alternative embodiment, the second section 24 is rotatably joinedto the first section 23 and the organized flows acts to rotate thesecond section 24 against the first section 23 of the inner body 22.This also has the effect of turning an armature in the micro generator25 to generate electricity. The motion of the second section 24 can befurther aided by the addition of turbine blades to the exterior surfaceof the second section 24 or by roughening the exterior surface of therotatable second section. Bearings may be used to allow the secondsection 24 to freely spin on the first section 23, with the motion ofthe fluid spinning the second section 24. The bearings are used topermit the parts to rotate without the need for grease or maintenance.In an alternative embodiment, the turbine blades and/or the roughenedsurface may be provided in place of, rather than in addition to thepropeller 27 and shaft 26.

In another embodiment, the propeller 27 and shaft 26 are used and theinterior of the outer housing 21 is provided with turbine blades orrifling 124 (See FIG. 4A), to direct and enhance the flow through thepropeller. Wiring 123 is provided to carry power generated by the microturbine 25 to an external storage device 125 or to other devices forimmediate use.

In an alternative embodiment, the inlet pipe 28 may be configured toallow the fluid to enter the chamber 20 tangentially, rather than alongthe central axis of the chamber 20 as shown in FIG. 4. See for exampleU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0000581, FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B,7, etc. and the accompanying text. In another alternative embodiment,the inner body of the chamber can be either solid or hollow. In yetanother alternative embodiment, the housing 21 may be connected toeither the inlet pipe 28 and/or the outlet pipe 29 using plates andgaskets or by an epoxied or glued joint or by being formed as a singlecontinuous piece. Furthermore, additional methods of achieving anorganized flow which may be utilized in alternative embodiments of thepresent invention are discussed more broadly in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No, 2005/0000581.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an inner body having a secondrounded section 24 and a first pointed section 23. In these figures, thefluid flow passes around the inner body 22 before turning the propeller27. Whereas FIG. 4 shows fluid flow in a forward direction, FIG. 5 showsthe reverse direction wherein fluid passing through a flow developmentand cogeneration chamber 30 flows over a second rounded section 34 ofthe inner body 32 before passing over a first pointed section 33, afterwhich it continues on to flow past a propeller 37. Deflecting vanes 315are provided in the chamber adjacent and upstream of the propeller whichdeflecting vanes 315 aid in the development of the organized flow.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a flow development and cogenerationchamber 30 having an inner body comprising a single section 43 providedas a pointed section directed toward the source of the fluid flow,namely the inlet pipe 48. A propeller 47 mounted on a shaft 46 extendsup from the first section 43 of the inner body. Deflecting vanes 415 areprovided in the chamber adjacent the inlet pipe 48. As above, thedeflecting vanes 415 aid in the development of the organized flow as afluid passes over the first inner body section 43 within a housing 41.The organized flow created by fluid flowing over the section 43 of FIG.4 is used to turn the shaft-mounted propeller 47 which in turn rotates amicro turbine 45 located inside the section 43 to generate electricity.The single first section may also be used in the reverse direction flowof FIG. 5, wherein the pointed section is directed away from the sourceof the fluid flow.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow development chamber 50 employed to aid in themixing of two flowable materials such as a liquid with another liquid, aliquid with a gas, or a gas with another gas. A flowable solid may alsobe mixed with another flowable solid, liquid and/or gas. After meetingand flowing together in the inlet pipe 58 from feed pipes 64, 66, thesesubstances continue into a housing 51 flowing over an inner body 52.Deflecting vanes 515 are provided in the chamber adjacent the inlet pipeor formed from an upstream end of the inlet pipe 58. As above, thedeflecting vanes 515 aid in the development of a vortex flow 150 as afluid passes over the inner body 52 within the housing 51, which vortexflow 150 mixes the two substances.

In another embodiment, a flow development chamber may be employed toseparate rather than mix a plurality of substances by creating andselectively diverting parts of an organized flow. These substances mayinclude flowable solids as well as liquids and gasses. FIG. 8 shows aflow development chamber 60 which may be used to establish an organizedflow wherein a liquid and a gas, liquids of different densities, orgases of different densities may be separated into a spiraling vortexflow 162 and a helical flow 161 around the spiraling flow. Deflectingvanes 615 are formed from an upstream end of an inlet pipe 68 orotherwise provided. As above, the deflecting vanes 615 aid in thedevelopment of the organized flow as a fluid passes over an inner body62 within a housing 61. In the embodiment shown, an organized stream ofair in the spiraling flow 162 is separated from a water mixture in thehelical flow 161 and collected in a diverter pipe 164 inserted into thehousing 61 of the chamber 60 and ejected from an outlet pipe 165.Because of its ability to remove air from a water-air mixture, thechamber 60 may for example be used with a stream of water intended for afire hose to provide a more effective flame suppressant stream.

The diverter pipe 164 and outlet pipe 165 may be supported within thechamber 60 by attachment to the housing 61 of the chamber 60 at thepoint at which outlet pipe 165 passes through the housing 61. In thisway, the portion of the diverter pipe 164 running lengthwise through theinterior of the housing 61 of the chamber 60 forms a cantilever memberrelative to its attachment point at the housing 61. In the embodimentshown, the outlet pipe 165 exits the housing 61 close to the end of theoutlet pipe 69 so that the extent of disruption of the helical andspiraling flows 161 and 162 is minimized.

The diverter pipe 164 may be supported within the outlet pipe 69 usingpins or struts (not shown) passing between the outlet pipe 69 and thediverter pipe 164. The organized flow within the chamber 60 may bedisrupted by these pins. However, if these pins are small enough indiameter it is likely that any such disruption to the organized flowwill be minimal. In the event that the diverter pipe 164 or its supportsdoes disrupt the organized flow within the chamber 60, a second flowdevelopment chamber may be provided downstream from the disruption toreestablish the organized flow.

Returning now to FIG. 1, the flow processing device 15 may be any devicecapable of sharing a fluid flow with a flow development and cogenerationchamber 10. For example, in one embodiment, the device 15 is a home hotwater heater. The flow development and cogeneration chamber 10 may beplaced at the fluid outlet, inlet or at another appropriate place inline with the flow processing device 15. In a further exemplaryembodiment shown, the chamber 10 is placed at the outlet of the heater15, which connects to the inlet conduit of the chamber 10. In analternative embodiment, the device 15 is another electricity consumingdevice such as submersible water pump, fuel pump, continuous mixer orthe like, and electricity generated by the chamber 10 may be used tooperate the device 15. As further shown with reference to FIG. 1, afluid from a feed 16 passes to the device 15 and then to the chamber 10,where an organized flow is created and electricity is generated. Thiselectricity can either be retained in a storage cell 14 or supplied tothe device 15 using the wiring 13, 13′ and used to cogenerate theongoing operation of the device, for example by pre-heating contents ofthe hot-water tank where the device 15 is a home hot water heater. Afterforming an organized flow and being used to cogenerate the device 15,fluid exits the system at the outlet conduit 12 for consumption by auser.

In a further embodiment, a computer controller 17 may be provided toregulate the amount of fluid input into the system. The controller 17may include a variable frequency drive or transducer with a valve toautomatically or manually regulate the flow of a given substance.Alternative embodiments of the controller 17 may be provided to allowmanual regulation of the fluid input by a user, or to allow systemparameters to be set to deliver a constant flow.

In another embodiment, the device 15 may be a submersible water pumpprimed using an existing electricity or gas supply. As water passesthrough the chamber 10, electricity generated by the chamber 10 may bestored in the storage cell 14 or used to cogenerate the pump, whereby aportion of the generated power is used to operate the pump in lieu ofdrawing that amount from the pump's primary power source, therebyreducing the amount of energy otherwise needed to operate the pump.

In yet other alternative embodiments, the chamber 10 may be placed inthe exhaust systems of automobile, boat, train or jet engines. Bypassing exhaust gases through the chamber 10 to create an organized flowbefore venting these gases to atmosphere, backpressure on the engine maybe reduced and engine performance may be improved. As with thepreviously mentioned embodiments, the flow development and cogenerationchamber 10 can also be used to cogenerate electricity in such asituation, which electricity may either be consumed by the engine, orstored in the storage cell 14. It will be understood by one skilled inthe art that embodiments of the system described herein can be scaled tovarying sizes and made to work with various flow processing devices.

Although this discussion refers to fluids passing through the flowdevelopment chamber, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatgases and other substances may be passed through the flow developmentchamber and cogeneration chamber described herein in place of or inaddition to the aforementioned fluids. And although many of theembodiments of the invention have been discussed in terms of a fluid,these embodiments would function equally well with any mixture offluids, a gas alone, a liquid, or any combination of gas, liquid and/orparticulates. Furthermore, although the foregoing describes theinvention with preferred embodiments, this is not intended to limit theinvention. Rather, the foregoing is intended to cover all modificationsand alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A flow development chamber comprising: an exterior housing having aninlet opening; an inner body within the exterior housing; an inlet tubelocated at the inlet opening; at least one diverter provided in theexterior housing and arranged to circulate flow from the inlet tubeinside the exterior housing; and a generator harnessing the circulatingflow within the flow development chamber to generate electrical power.2. The flow development chamber of claim 1, wherein the inner body is aradially symmetric body having an axis and a series of cross sectionsalong the axis decreasing in area from an equator outward to each of afirst end and a second end of the inner body.
 3. The flow developmentchamber of claim 1, wherein the inner body is a radially symmetric bodyhaving an axis and a series of cross-sections along the axis decreasingin area from a first end to a second end of the inner body.
 4. The flowdevelopment chamber of claim 1, further comprising a propeller connectedto a shaft, which shaft is connected to an armature of the generator forharnessing the circulating flow within the flow development chamber. 5.The flow development chamber of claim 4, wherein the inlet opening isconcentric to the axis of the inner body.
 6. The flow developmentchamber of claim 2, wherein the inner body comprises a lower portionbetween the equator and the first end and an upper portion between theequator and the second end, and wherein the upper portion is rotatablyconnected to the lower portion and engages an armature of the generator.7. The flow development chamber of claim 6, further comprising one ormore turbine blades provided on the upper portion of the inner body. 8.The flow development chamber of claim 6, wherein the at least onediverter supports the lower half of the inner body within the exteriorhousing.
 9. The flow development chamber of claim 6, wherein thegenerator is affixed to the lower half of the inner body.
 10. The flowdevelopment chamber of claim 4 further comprising turbine blades orrifling on an interior surface of the exterior housing.
 11. The flowdevelopment chamber of claim 1, wherein the flow development chambershares a fluid flow with a electricity consuming device, and whereinelectricity generated by the flow development chamber is used to operatethe electricity consuming device.
 12. The flow development chamber ofclaim 1, further comprising a storage cell connected to the generatorfor storing the electricity generated by the generator.
 13. A fluidhandling and cogeneration system comprising: an inlet conduit; a housinghaving a inlet end, a outlet end and an interior surface extendingconcentrically and increasing then decreasing in diameter from the inletend to the outlet end of the housing; a inner body within the housinghaving an inlet end, an outlet end, and an exterior surface extendingconcentrically from the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein the housingand inner body are arranged to form an annular space between theinterior surface of the housing and the exterior surface of the innerbody; at least one diverter extending between the interior surface ofthe housing and the exterior surface of the inner body and configuredsuch that the fluid is directed to circulate around the inner body andtraverse the annular space from the at least one diverter toward theoutlet end of the housing; and a generator within the housing harnessingthe fluid traversing the annular space to generate electrical power. 14.The fluid handling and cogeneration system of claim 13, wherein theinlet conduit is parallel with a line connecting the inlet end and theoutlet end of the housing.
 15. The fluid handling and cogenerationsystem of claim 13, wherein the inner body comprises a lower halfproximate to the inlet end and an upper half proximate to the outletend, and wherein the upper half is rotatably connected to the lower halfand engages an armature of the generator.
 16. The fluid handling andcogeneration system of claim 15, further comprising one or more turbineblades provided on the upper half of the inner body.
 17. The fluidhandling and cogeneration system of claim 13, wherein the inlet conduitand the at least one diverter are formed as a single continuous unit towhich the housing and the inner body are secured.
 18. The fluid handlingand cogeneration system of claim 18, wherein the at least one diverterhas an upstream side, a downstream side, an inner portion and aprojecting portion, wherein the at least one diverter projects radiallyoutward with the upstream, projecting portion contacting the housing andthe upstream, inner portion contacting the inlet conduit, and whereinthe lower half of the inner body contacts the downstream, inner portionof the at least one diverter.
 19. The fluid handling and cogenerationsystem of claim 13, further comprising a propeller connected to a shaft,which shaft is connected to an armature of the generator for harnessingthe circulating flow.
 20. The fluid handling and cogeneration system ofclaim 13, wherein the generator is a micro-turbine device.
 21. A flowdevelopment chamber comprising: an exterior housing having an inletopening; an inner body within the exterior housing; an inlet tubelocated at the inlet opening; at least one diverter provided in theexterior housing and arranged to circulate flow from the inlet tubeinside the exterior housing; and a feed pipe connected to the inlet tubeupstream of the exterior housing to combine flowable material in thefeed pipe with flowable material in the inlet tube.
 22. A flowdevelopment chamber comprising: an exterior housing having an inletopening; an inner body within the exterior housing; an inlet tubelocated at the inlet opening; an outlet tube extending from the exteriorhousing; at least one diverter provided in the exterior housing andarranged to circulate flow from the inlet tube inside the exteriorhousing; and a diverter pipe inside the outlet tube to collect flow frominside the exterior housing.